"I think the prayers of people like us matter. Not in spite of scripture but because of it. Not in spite of Church but because of her. Not in spite of our questions and doubts but because of them. Not in spite of our grief and our longing, our yearning for justice and our anger, but because of them."
Peanut and I finished our school work just before lunch today.
I decided to take a moment (technically 43ish minutes) and get my latest This is Us fix.
I sat down on the couch with my phone, my laptop, and my coke.
My intent was to answer emails, take care of a few things and watch the latest episode. No minute wasted right?
A few minutes into the show I realized I was missing my favorite thing about watching this show.
The ability to spend an hour completely lost in the world of the Pearsons.
By physically holding all these other things, I deprived myself of the ability to just be in the moment.
I had decided that to just be in a moment was a waste of time.
The opportunity to ugly and cry and belly laugh and try to figure out how to fast forward through the commercials.
The option to not overthink about my own circus for a bit and only worry about the Pearson three.
By not giving all my attention to the show, I was missing out on receiving all it has to offer.
A while ago I took social media apps off my cell phone.
If I want to access social media, I still have options. The laptop I share with Xman. The tablet I use for school for Peanut.
But it's not in the palm of my hand all the time.
It's not an option if I'm away from home.
Not an option if I'm soaking up sunshine on a pretty day.
I have to seek a device to use social media.
The device I carry around in my hand is now solely for the purpose of engaging with people.
I frequently see people fasting from social media for Lent or other seasons of personal choice.
While I think it's great to take a break (remind me next election year to fast!), I think it's better to make purposeful choices about your access and usage every day.
Recently we rented a movie on Amazon for family movie night.
When I looked around my living room, I saw four people staring at small screens in their hands and only one actively watching the large screen (that 5th one may never have a cell phone but that's a post for a different day).
There seems to be a badge in our culture today for multi tasking.
I used to pride myself in the ability to do several things at one time.
This morning I taught reading while folding a load of clothes.
The problem is that while I was super productive I sent the message to my loves to read 7 year old that her reading wasn't important enough for me to stop everything and just listen.
As I journey to the cross this year in this season of Lent, I'm trying to focus on ONE thing at a time.
Which means I have to be a better steward of my time.
Mama Warriors, there is no better multi tasker than a mother.
But what message do we send our kids if the SOLE thing we focus on is never them?
And what are we missing out on if never give God our full attention?
I think by not giving God our full attention, we are missing out the fullness of what He has to offer.
Maybe He would give us 43 minutes of total peace to step back from it all if we would just make ourselves available?
If we carved out time where our sole purpose was to be open to what He has to offer?
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